Compare towns
Ayer vs Brooklyn vs Griswold vs Killingly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ayer | Brooklyn | Griswold | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
8,517Lowest |
11,530 |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
| Griswold and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Brooklyn School District | Griswold School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Griswold High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.